TYPE HAIR

Hair Types: How To Find Yours & Why It Matters

When it comes to hair types, you may be surprised to find out that there are at least 12 different hair types, and that’s before you start to factor in the condition of the hair! Knowing what your hair type is, means you can better understand the texture, density and curl pattern if you have one. All of this will enable you to choose products that are the best ones for your hair’s specific needs, and ensure your locks are as luscious and healthy as they can be.

The Importance Of Knowing Your Hair Type

Identifying your hair type can be the make or break of your hair care routine. By understanding the characteristics of your hair, you'll be able to better understand what products will work well for your hair, the best styling tips and routines, and also, quite importantly, which products won't work for your hair, allowing you the save the wasted time and money we've all spent on hair products that don’t end up working for our hair.

Hair Type Chart:

Hair Type	Sub-Type	What Does This Look Like?
Type 1: Straight Hair	1A	Very straight and usually quite thin. This hair type usually lacks volume and can get oily quite easily.
	1B	Straight but with more volume and body due to slightly thicker strands.
	1C	Straight with a little bit of a wave to it. Likely to be coarser in texture and prone to frizziness.
Type 2: Wavy Hair	A	Loose, S-shaped waves that is usually fine to medium texture. This hair type is normally easy to style.
	2B	More defined waves with a medium texture, this hair type is prone to frizz.
	2C	Thick, coarse waves with frizz and volume.
Type 3: Curly Hair	3A	Loose, large curls that usually are smoother in texture, but this hair type can be prone to frizz in humid climates.
	3B	Springy, coiled curls with a little volume, which can sometimes be quite coarse and frizzy.
	3C	Tight coily curls with a dense, thick texture.
Type 4: Coily/Kinky Hair	4A	Soft, defined curls that form tight coils. This hair type often has fine to medium thickness.
	4B	Coiled curls with little definition that are often densely packed and prone to shrinkage.
	4C	Very tightly coiled curls, often with no defined curl pattern. This hair type is prone to shrinkage and dryness.

The Four Main Hair Types Explained

The four main hair type groups are type 1, type 2, type 3 and type 4. These four categories primarily determine the curl or wave level within the hair types, with type one being typically the straightest type, and type 4 being the coiled curl type. Within those four hair type categories, there are three sub-types for each primary hair type; A, B and C.

These three sub-types will consider the density, texture and porosity of the hair to further allow you to break down the specific characteristics of your hair, and therefore determine its specific needs. Let's dive a little deeper into each hair type and sub-type to get a better understanding of what these actually mean:

Type 2 Hair – Wavy Hair Types

Type 2 hair has a natural wave to it, and if you’ve ever described your hair as being ‘not curly but not straight’, it's likely you'll sit somewhere within the type 2 hair category. People with type 2 hair will often experience frizz in humid weather and will likely have hair that is relatively easy to style! By looking into each sub-type, you can get a better understanding of your hair needs and how to care for type 2 wavy hair. Let's look into the breakdown of the Type 2 sub-types;

• Type 2A – 2a hair features loose, tousled waves that form a very subtle S-shape. This hair type is usually quite fine and thin and generally lacks volume meaning it is easy to straighten and style, but this also means heavy products should be avoided as this can weigh the hair down.

• Type 2B – The wave pattern of 2B hair is a more defined s-shaped wave with the thickness of this type resulting in more texture and body than 2A hair. 2B is more prone to frizz so may need more frizz-focused products and careful styling in humid weather.

• Type 2C – This is the most defined wave type within the type 2 hair category. These waves are so defined they can sometimes resemble a loose curl, starting close to the root. This hair type is very prone to frizz and is usually thick and coarse with a mixture of waves and very loose curls within it.

Type 3 Hair – Curly Hair Types

Type 3 hair is normally characterised by curly hair, with curl types ranging from smooth, loose curls, to tighter spiralling curls. By looking into each sub-type, you can get a better understanding of your hair needs and how to care for type 3 curly hair. Let's see what sets one curl apart from another;

• Type 3A – This hair type often features loose but well-defined curls that are frequently described as ‘S-shaped’. The texture is soft and smooth and the curls are usually described as being about the size of a chunky whiteboard marker pen.

• Type 3B – This hair type features slightly tighter curls with a springier, spiral shape that are about the size of a Sharpie pen.

• Type 3C – This hair type is characterised by very tight, cork-screw-like curls, with the coily curls being about the size of a pencil. Usually quite dense and thick, 3C hair has more volume than 3A and 3B, and is also quite prone to shrinkage and frizz.